Improvement in pyrotechnic signals



v J. J. DETWILLEPJ, Pyrotechnic Signal. 217,591.

Patented July 15, I879.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PYROTECHNIC SIGNALS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.

217.591, dated July 15, 1879; application filed May 8, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JACOB J. DETWILLER,

of Greenville, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pyrotechnic Signals, ofwhich the following is a specification.

These improvements relate to pyrotechnic signals adapted for use inconnection with a balloon, and which are ignited and operated afterbeing carried up into the air.

One improvement consists in the combination of a torch or constantsignaling and illuminating device and a separate and independent signal,such as a star, attached to the torch to be ignited thereby, but to burnindependently thereof, the whole being adapted for use with a balloon,and preferably attached thereto in such manner that it willafterignition be released therefrom by the torch and allowed to dropaway from the balloon prior to its operation. a

Another improvement consists in the combination of a torch or constantsignaling and illuminating device and a separate and independent audiblesignal attached to the torch to be ignited thereby, but to burnindependently thereof, and so that it will after ignition be releasedfrom said torch, the same being adapted for use with a balloon.

Another improvement consists in a novel fire-work for use with aballoon.

Other improvements consist in detailshereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of aballoon and fire-work embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of the fire-work on a larger scale I detached; and Fig. 3 is a topview, partly in section, of the fire-work detached from its balloon.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A designates a balloon, which may be of any suitable kind-for instance,composed of a paper case or envelope inflated with rarefied air,according to the plan set forthin Letters PatentNo.193,599,granted to meJuly 31,1877. B designates a cord or other similar device fastened tothe balloon and suspending afirework therefrom. This firework consists,essentially, of a torch or constant signaling and illuminating deviceand a separate and independent visible or audible signal, orboth,connected so as to be ignited thereby, but to burn independentlythereof. In this example of my invention such fire-work comprises acircular frame or hoop, (J, of wood or other desirable material, aroundwhich is arranged a torch, D, preferably consisting of a thin paper casecrimped along one side to admit of its arrangement in circular form,containing a composition such as that known as colored fire, adapted,when ignited, to burn slowly and emit constantly a brilliant coloredlight. This torch may advantageously be provided with a stem or fuse, E,to facilitate its ignition.

F designates a series of Roman candles extending radially-from a centralhub, G, and fastened by cords or wires 10 to spokes 8 extending from thesaid hub to the frame or hoop (l, and combined with the torch D, so asto be ignited by the latter. may be of ordinary form, consistingseverally of a case, a slow-burning composition, 12, then what infire-works is known as a star, 0, then a charge of gunpowder, p, forejecting the same, and so on repeatedly throughout its length. It willbe observed that these Roman candles are so arranged as not to entaildanger of igniting the balloon when they are operated. H' de'signates anumber of devices consistin g of a shell or case containing acompositionknown as a star, and attached to the frame or hoop O and torch D bybands or cords d of combustible material, so that they may be ignited bythe torch, and be thereby released by the burning away of such bands orcords, and allowed to part from the balloon before operating.

I designates an audible signal, which may be of any suitable kindcapable of producing an explosion, and is attached to the frame or hoopO and torch D by combustible'bands or cords 6; hence it is ignited bythe torch and I released from the balloon by the burning of I its bandsor cords.

I do not confine myself to this arrangement of the parts in the form ofa wheel, as my invention is susceptible of use in many other These Romancandles Ways. As the torch burns it maintains a con stantillumination,,and indicates where to look for the signals, which aregiven at intervals.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- 1. The combination of a torch or constant signaling andilluminating device and a separate and independent signal, such as astar, attached to the torch tobe ignited thereby, but to burnindependently thereof, substantially as specified, and adapted for usewith a balloon.

2. The combination of a torch .or constant signaling and illuminatingdevice and a sep' arate and independent signal, such as a star, attachedto the torch to be ignited thereby, but to burn independently thereof,and to be released from the torch after ignition, substantially asspecified, and adapted for use with a balloon.

3. The combination of a torch or constant signaling and illuminatin gdevice and a separate and independent audible signal attached to thetorch to beignited thereby, but to burn independen tl y thereof, and tobe released from said torch after ignition, substantially as specified,and adapted for use with a balloon.

4. The combination of a torch or constant signaling and illuminatingdevice, arranged in circular form, and a series of separate andindependent signals attached to the torch to be ignited thereby, but toburn independently thereof, substantially as specified, and adapted foruse with a balloon.

JACOB J. DETWILLER.

Witnesses:

EDWIN I-I. BROWN, T. J KEANE.

